Rheology and Flow Properties of Fracturing Gels in Straight and Coiled Tubing

Autori

  • Ahmed H Kamel Associate Professor of Petroleum Engineering College of Business and Engineering University of Texas Permian Basin 4901 E. University Blvd. IT 108 Odessa, TX 79762 - 0001 Tel: (432) 552 – 2219 Fax: (432) 552 – 2174
  • Abdullah H Harouaka Professor of Petroleum Engineering College of Business and Engineering University of Texas Permian Basin 4901 E. University Blvd. IT 108 Odessa, TX 79762 - 0001 Tel: (432) 552 – 2216 Fax: (432) 552 – 2174

Abstract

This study involves experimental investigation of rheological and hydraulic characteristics of aqueous based polymeric and surfactant fluids in straight and coiled tubing. The fluids matrix includes guar, HPG, PHPA, welan, xanthan, and surfactant. Bohlin rheometer was used to evaluate rheological and viscoelastic characteristics. For hydraulic characteristics, small- and large-scale flow loops were used.      It is observed that all fluids exhibit comparable non-Newtonian behavior and improved viscous and elastic properties. Among polymeric fluids, guar and welan provide better viscosity and suspension properties. Surfactant is significantly affected by the formation of rod-like micelles and other microstructures. Master curves for rheological and elastic properties are developed using the molecular theory approach. The foremost benefit of these curves is its dimensionless form that provides a unique technique to predict viscosity for all fluids. For hydraulic properties, friction losses in coiled tubing are significantly higher than in straight tubing due to centrifugal forces and secondary flows. Surfactant is more sensitive to shear field applied where different microstructures are induced and thus they exhibit better drag reduction characteristics than polymeric fluids especially in coiled tubing with larger sizes. However, in straight tubing, guar shows better drag reduction characteristics than surfactant and other polymers, which diminishes as tubing size increases.  However, welan gum exhibits a comparable performance. Overall, all fluids are considered good candidates as fracturing fluids with specific features for each. Unique characteristics of each fluid is discussed and explained in more details within the context of the present paper.

Dowloads

Pubblicato

2017-05-17

Fascicolo

V. 7 N. 1 (2017)

Sezione

Research Articles

Licenza

Declaration and Copyright Transfer Form

(to be completed by authors)

 

I/ We, the undersigned author(s) of the submitted manuscript, hereby declare, that the above manuscript which is submitted for publication in the STM Journals(s), is not published already in part or whole (except in the form of abstract) in any journal or magazine for private or public circulation, and, is not under consideration of publication elsewhere.

·         I/We will not withdraw the manuscript after 1 week of submission as I have read the Author Guidelines and will adhere to the guidelines.

·         I/We Author(s ) have niether given nor will give this manuscript elsewhere for publishing after submitting in STM Journal(s).

·         I/ We have read the original version of the manuscript and am/ are responsible for the thought contents embodied in it. The work dealt in the manuscript is my/ our own, and my/ our individual contribution to this work is significant enough to qualify for authorship.

·          I/We also agree to the authorship of the article in the following order:

Author’s name                                    

 

1. ________________

2. ________________

3. ________________

4. _______________

 

We  Author(s) tick this box and would request you to consider it as our signature as we agree to the terms of this Copyright Notice, which will apply to this submission if and when it is published by this journal.